Calendar of Events

The season of trembling leaves is upon us. Visit The Shop to combine a variety of materials to create a tree sculpture with leaves to move with the power of kinetic energy. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Traverse the Moon’s surface with a lunar lander you design and build in The Shop. Using a variety of materials and a motor and counterweight, create a motorized contraption that will move on its own as if conducting an automated lunar mission. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Combine a mason jar with a variety of fall-inspired elements to create a luminaire that will provide a warm glow on chilly fall evenings with the help of a battery powered tealight. Join us for these educator-led, 45 minute workshops in The Shop. Space in each session is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young…

Approximately 13 times each century, Mercury passes between the Earth and the Sun aligned so that the disc of the planet can be seen through a telescope crossing the Sun. On November 11, 2019 in Reno, the Sun will rise with the transit already in progress. Join our friends from Tahoe Star Tours to view the transit through computerized Celestron telescopes. The next transit visible from Reno won’t happen until 2049! Note: The viewing will take place outside The Discovery. The…

Combine a mason jar with a variety of fall-inspired elements to create a luminaire that will provide a warm glow on chilly fall evenings with the help of a battery powered tealight. Join us for these educator-led, 45 minute workshops in The Shop. Space in each session is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young…

Harness the power of the wind when you visit The Shop to design and build your own sail car. Using a variety of materials, you can create a vehicle that uses a sail to catch the wind and race to its destination. What you make is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this…

Visit The Discovery on the second Wednesday of every month for Tech!Night, a new program designed to put emerging technology in the hands of museum visitors. Tech!Nights will feature a variety of high-tech tools and techniques, gadgets and games – command a robot, print in 3-D, and even code a new game – happening monthly in Spark!Lab Smithsonian.

Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your very own board game. Using available materials, you can invent a board game, write the rules of play, and create the pieces for your game as well. Challenge your friends and family to play your game and then refine your idea based on their feedback!

Visit The Shop and combine a pair of magnets with paper craft to create a magical ice dancer with a rink to skate on. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Visit The Shop and combine a pair of magnets with paper craft to create a magical ice dancer with a rink to skate on. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Join Visiting Artist Nicole Oliver to work together with your child to create a collaborative work of art. Parents are encouraged to provide guidance while responding to their child’s creative decisions, working collaboratively to create a truly unique piece. About Nicole Oliver Nicole has collaborated with her two-year-old daughter Mazie to paint garden scenes using acrylic paint on canvas. The process and the finished pieces reflect the joys and struggles of motherhood, as well as the growth that both parent…

Visit The Shop to combine a variety of materials and your imagination to design and build a simple animation machine. Bring a beautiful winter scene to life with a machine that creates a simple looping animation. What you create is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Visit The Discovery on the second Wednesday of every month for Tech!Night, a program designed to put emerging technology in the hands of museum visitors. Tech!Nights feature a variety of high-tech tools and techniques, gadgets and games – command a robot, print in 3-D, and even code a new game – happening monthly in Spark!Lab Smithsonian.